World History
Templars. Probably one of the most intriguing mysteries of history are those that pertain to the Knights Templar. There is a lot that is not known about this secretive and powerful group from medieval times.
Yet, that is also the problem. Any study of the Templars quickly gets bogged down in conspiracy theories, occult lore, and speculation. Throw in the Da Vinci Code, and all hope is lost...
The blogged article of the day is a good example of this. It has some good historical facts included. You can learn a lot about the Templars from it. However, there is also occult specualtion and the Templars are linked to Masons.
From the site:
Whether stars of the Disney film National Treasure or pawns of modern day political and commercial propaganda, the Knights Templar have taken root as one of the world's leading mystery groups. But what is the truth? Did they really have a great secret? Did they really hide treasure? Were they really guardians of the Holy Bloodline? Let's take a look.
Originally supposedly a group of nine knights (debatable), taken from the ruling nobility in the region of France known as Champagne who collected themselves together in Jerusalem around 1118 AD and formed the now infamous Knights Templar. All of this cannot be totally proven from the texts ? however it is repeated so often that it becomes true. In all likelihood they had been formed in France years before.
They were pledged, it is said, to commit their lives and work to a strict code of rules and on the face of it were simply ordained to ensure the safe passage of pilgrims to the Holy Land. The knights request this task of the first King Baldwin of Jerusalem, who refuses. He then dies supposedly under mysterious circumstances only to be replaced by Baldwin II who then almost immediately grants them this privilege. For the next nine (there's that number again) years the knights excavate beneath the Temple of Solomon (which didn't ever exist) in complete secrecy and the Grand Master returns to Europe, supposedly with secrets that have been hidden for hundreds of years. Very quickly the knights achieve a special dispensation from the Pope to allow them to charge interest on loans - indicating their swift path to wealth. Soon the great Cathedral building period arrives across Europe with the new found architectural ?secrets? discovered by the crusaders. This new found knowledge may very well have come from some of the discoveries made by the Templars, especially when we consider that the man responsible for energizing the building program was none other than St. Bernard - the same Bernard who gave the Order of the Knights Templar their rules and who was related by blood to various members. The same St. Bernard indicated in the propaganda of the Arthurian and Grail literature.
- Knights Templar, Knights Hospitallers, And Teutonic Knights
Knights Templar At the time of the First Crusade (1096), Christian monasticism had been in existence since the third century after Christ. What developed out of the crusade, however, was a unique melding of Christian monasticism with the idea of crusade...
- History Of Malta
History of Malta. This short essay is a history of the European nation of Malta which may be most famous for the long rule of the Knights of St. John. The Encyclopædia Britannica notes, "Officially Republic of Malta , Maltese Malta , or Repubblika Ta'...
- The Knights Hospitaller, Ancient And Modern
The Knights Hospitaller, Ancient and Modern - An unofficial guide to the chivalric Hospitaller Orders, especially the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, from the First Crusade to the present era. Not as well known as the Knights Templar (or as controversial),...
- Medieval Castle Siege Weapons
Medieval Castle Siege Weapons - Site focused on medieval castles, siege engines, knights and other aspects of medieval warfare. Of particular interest are several special sections relating to Dungeons & Dragons and The Lord of the Rings. Many people have...
- Elizabethan Heraldry
Elizabethan Heraldry. Includes a history of heraldry through the renaissance, information on officers of arms in England and a primer of blazonry. From the site: The early histories of heralds and armory are roughly contemporary but separate stories....
World History
Templars
Templars. Probably one of the most intriguing mysteries of history are those that pertain to the Knights Templar. There is a lot that is not known about this secretive and powerful group from medieval times.
Yet, that is also the problem. Any study of the Templars quickly gets bogged down in conspiracy theories, occult lore, and speculation. Throw in the Da Vinci Code, and all hope is lost...
The blogged article of the day is a good example of this. It has some good historical facts included. You can learn a lot about the Templars from it. However, there is also occult specualtion and the Templars are linked to Masons.
From the site:
Whether stars of the Disney film National Treasure or pawns of modern day political and commercial propaganda, the Knights Templar have taken root as one of the world's leading mystery groups. But what is the truth? Did they really have a great secret? Did they really hide treasure? Were they really guardians of the Holy Bloodline? Let's take a look.
Originally supposedly a group of nine knights (debatable), taken from the ruling nobility in the region of France known as Champagne who collected themselves together in Jerusalem around 1118 AD and formed the now infamous Knights Templar. All of this cannot be totally proven from the texts ? however it is repeated so often that it becomes true. In all likelihood they had been formed in France years before.
They were pledged, it is said, to commit their lives and work to a strict code of rules and on the face of it were simply ordained to ensure the safe passage of pilgrims to the Holy Land. The knights request this task of the first King Baldwin of Jerusalem, who refuses. He then dies supposedly under mysterious circumstances only to be replaced by Baldwin II who then almost immediately grants them this privilege. For the next nine (there's that number again) years the knights excavate beneath the Temple of Solomon (which didn't ever exist) in complete secrecy and the Grand Master returns to Europe, supposedly with secrets that have been hidden for hundreds of years. Very quickly the knights achieve a special dispensation from the Pope to allow them to charge interest on loans - indicating their swift path to wealth. Soon the great Cathedral building period arrives across Europe with the new found architectural ?secrets? discovered by the crusaders. This new found knowledge may very well have come from some of the discoveries made by the Templars, especially when we consider that the man responsible for energizing the building program was none other than St. Bernard - the same Bernard who gave the Order of the Knights Templar their rules and who was related by blood to various members. The same St. Bernard indicated in the propaganda of the Arthurian and Grail literature.
- Knights Templar, Knights Hospitallers, And Teutonic Knights
Knights Templar At the time of the First Crusade (1096), Christian monasticism had been in existence since the third century after Christ. What developed out of the crusade, however, was a unique melding of Christian monasticism with the idea of crusade...
- History Of Malta
History of Malta. This short essay is a history of the European nation of Malta which may be most famous for the long rule of the Knights of St. John. The Encyclopædia Britannica notes, "Officially Republic of Malta , Maltese Malta , or Repubblika Ta'...
- The Knights Hospitaller, Ancient And Modern
The Knights Hospitaller, Ancient and Modern - An unofficial guide to the chivalric Hospitaller Orders, especially the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, from the First Crusade to the present era. Not as well known as the Knights Templar (or as controversial),...
- Medieval Castle Siege Weapons
Medieval Castle Siege Weapons - Site focused on medieval castles, siege engines, knights and other aspects of medieval warfare. Of particular interest are several special sections relating to Dungeons & Dragons and The Lord of the Rings. Many people have...
- Elizabethan Heraldry
Elizabethan Heraldry. Includes a history of heraldry through the renaissance, information on officers of arms in England and a primer of blazonry. From the site: The early histories of heralds and armory are roughly contemporary but separate stories....